Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-04-07
srgAmER sAsfUnI NJ. rsnroN.
she wan HScpnrt FOR Cape Charles
Tomorrow Morning.
L Ernn1 ErArn u ranInn % ..aatarAnn n


From Every Evening" Of yssierisy.E
With the departure OF the steamer
Samuel M. FELTON, tomorrow morning.
familiar sight will be removed
FROM the ChristiRna aud Delaware
rivers. The FELTON, Will hereafter run
from Cape Charles 10 Richmond, Va, a
distance OF 90 miles, In connection with the
New York, Philadelphia d Norfolk RAILROAD.
Captain Raynor and a crew OF men arrived
from Norfolk yesterday, and at once made
preparations for her departure. She will
be inspected by the government insl ectors
to-day, and Is now coaling at the p isey Il
Jones Oompany's wharf.
Although never intended for sea g. rvice,
she Will have to go outside In reachi x her
destination. and her route will run for 80
miles through the rough boisterous 'vate I'd
at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay She
will BIO companion boat TO the Cape
Charles and the Old Point, which sreto-
fore ran to Norfolk and Richmond, ,spec-
lively. The distance from Cape Cha les TO
Norfolk ia 40 miles, aud two round trj os per
day for single boat were found TO 20 100
much, hence the addition OF the Eel On to
the line. The Cape Charles Will ar I've ut
the Harlan q HollingswoIth Com ,apy's
ship-yard In few days for genera over
hauling, after which she will run 10 n )rfolk
together with the Old Point, each boat
making one round trip daily.
The FELTON, will run up to Riehmt I'D on
one day and return on the followin day.
The vessel will remain under the con rol Of
Captain John p. Wiley. who has be N her
commander for several years past, ar d who
has been connected with the vessel II vRri-
GUS capacities almost since she was built.
Mate Downs who has also been tn the
FELTON, for number Of years, will g. with
her to Cape Charles. Her chief en- sineer
will be Samuel Richards, formerly en- dneer
on the Republic, but lately on the Cape
Charles.
The steamer Samuel NJ. Felton, wa built
at Chester, in 1865. by Reany, Son & Arch
bold, the predecessors of the late John
Roach, and their plant occupied the site OF
Roach's present big ship-yard. SHE was
built for the p, W. & B. railroad 10 run
from Philadelphia to Cape May, viii, b she
did upon being completed. At that time
and also 10 1867, the Ariel wes the ra llroad
company's boat, running between this city
and Philadelphia when New York Iaities
precipitated q memorable steambon, war,
which made matters exciting at thai time.
They first put GU the Eliza HaneoC K and
when she did not prove fast enough, tho
John Sylvester was substituted. 1t was
the general impression that the new
rivals wanted to be bought 70 stop
by the payment OF liberal sum,
but, instead, the railroad company waged
a relentless war. The FELTON, was put on
the route between this city and Philadel-
phia and, whereas the rival line charged a
fare of 25 cents, the FELTON, carried
thousands of passengers at 10 cents for
single fare and 10 cents for the round trip,
and, besides, she outdistaneed her compet-
ttors In the almost daily races on the Della
ware. Neither side made money during
these exciting times, but the steamboat
war was the sensation OF the day. This
opposition continued for four years, when,
on q summers night, the John Sylvester
stole OF quietly and did not appear In this
vicinity again until few years ago, when
she ran, for short time, from Philadelphia
to the Breakwater. The FELTON, has since
been on the route between the two cities
whenever she ran, but has been lying idle
at French street wharf for is months past.
She is still one of the fastest boats on the
river and will make worthy addition
where she will ply.